Support Policy Solutions
For fifty-plus years, Riverkeeper has been the Hudson River Estuary’s chief law enforcer when it comes to safeguarding our water and waterways. We work to strengthen the laws and regulations that impact New York’s water resources. We collaborate with coalitions and partners statewide on critical issues involving water pollution, clean energy, watershed preservation and more.
Since the mid-1960s, Riverkeeper has spearheaded policy initiatives that protect wetlands and habitat, improve nuclear oversight, increase and secure green funding, and encourage smart energy use and production in New York State. Strong environmental policy is one of the best tools we have, we work hard to garner support for legislation created to protect our Hudson River, its tributaries, our watershed, wetlands and surrounding communities.
Below you will find information, the current status of legislation and ways to contact your representatives on policies Riverkeeper has determined important to change and legislation we oppose and support.
Want to know the basics of New York State’s legislative process? Learn more here. Please see this guide for the budget process due each year on April 1st.
Find your member of the Assembly here >
Find your State Senator here >
Contact Governor Andrew M. Cuomo here >
Find Riverkeeper’s archive of 2020’s state budget & legislative memoranda here >
| Bill Information & Summary | Riverkeeper position | Status | Information | Take Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York State 2021 budget Governor's 2021-2022 Executive Budget Proposal | Governor's executive budget was released and state legislative hearings on the executive budget have concluded. 2/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Budget Memorandum Read Riverkeeper Environmental Conservation SFY-21-22 Budget Testimony | ||
| Clean Water Protection | ||||
| Defining Wetland Classification S5116 (Harckham) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (2/24/2021). 3/9/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Wetlands Protection Act S2979 (Harckham) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/26/2021) with no Assembly same as. 2/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Protect NY's Streams S4162/A6652 (Harckham/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently reported and committed to the Senate Finance Committee (3/16/2021) and Assembly Ways and Means Committee (3/23/2021). 3/26/2021 | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Oyster Shell Tax Credit S4741/A258 (Kaminsky/Rosenthal L) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Budget and Revenue Committee (2/10/2021) and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee (1/6/2021). 2/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Private Well Water Testing S48 (Hoylman) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021) with no Assembly same as. 2/9/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Expanding List of Emerging Contaminants S1759/A126 (Skoufis/Gottfried) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Health Committee (1/15/2021) and the Assembly Health Committee under its third reading (1/21/2021). 2/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Chemicals and Pesticides | ||||
| Coal Tar Sealant Ban S4095B/A518A (Sanders/Rosenthal L.) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently amended on third reading in the Senate (3/30/2021) and amended on third reading in the Assembly (3/25/2021). 3/31/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum USGS Fact Sheet on Coal Tar | |
| Birds and Bees Protection Act/Neonicotinoid pesticide moratorium S699 (Hoylman/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently being amended in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (3/3/2021). 3/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum NY Neonic Fact Sheet Recent Neonic Research | |
| Environmental Law and Litigation | ||||
| Environmental Bond Act A6566 (Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (3/19/2021). 3/22/2021. | Forthcoming Memorandum of Support | |
| Citizen Suits for Environmental Conservation Laws S5394/A2261 (Parker/Simon) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently advanced to its third reading in Assembly (3/25/2021) and referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (3/3/2021). 3/26/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Fixing SEQRA Standing S02798/A3510 (Kavanagh/O'Donnell) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/25/2021) and referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (1/27/2021). 2/9/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum SEQRA Standing Timeline and Summary of Cases SEQRA Standing Reform FAQ | |
| Equitable Siting for NY S1031B/A2103A (Stewart-Cousins/Pretlow) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in Senate (3/3/2021) and currently in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (2/8/2021). 3/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Plastics, Recycling, and Promoting a Circular Economy | ||||
| Single Use Hotel Bottle Ban S543/A5082 (Kaminsky/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently advanced to its third reading in the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (2/8/2021) and advanced to third reading in the Assembly Codes Committee (3/25/2021). 3/29/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Straws By Request S1505/A207 (Hoylman/Rosenthal L.) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/12/2021) and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021). 2/9/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Prohibition of the use of plastic beverage container packaging. S486/A922 (Krueger/Paulin) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021) and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021). 3/19/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Energy | ||||
| Legislation Riverkeeper Opposes | ||||
| Healthy Cold Water Fisheries Act A6136/S4083 (Woerner/Hinchey) | Riverkeeper Opposes | Currently in Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (3/10/2021) and Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (2/2/2021). 3/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
